Crowneast Scouts Camp, at Sidmouth Devon, August, 1953; with Scoutmaster Cyril Smith, standing centre.

Graham Holland my brother, is second in from the left, on the front row.
Born: Sunday, 15th March, 1942.
Died: Thursday, 11th September, 1997.
[Many thanks to Josephine Stenersen; our sister, who had this photo in her family photos]

1st Crown East Scouts was founded in June 1944. The Scouts met in an ex-army wooden meeting hut. The Group was first registered with the Scout Association as 1st Crown East (St Thomas') on 5th September, 1944. The registration number was 23243. The Scoutmaster was William Walter Howell and the Group had eight Scouts.

The 1st Crown East (St Thomas') Group Registration form in 1944 had Mr Cyril Smith as the Scoutmaster & 'Skipper' and for several year he was the Group Scoutmaster, and he kept a log of events from 1947 – 1964.

On the 25 June 1952, the Queen agreed to become the Scouts Patron; confirmed at the AGM in July 1952.

Below is a list of some of the things that were happening the year that the photograph above was taken.

• January 1953: Early plans for Coronation: Working with The National Trust to host chain of beacons on Coronation night. Scouts to sell programme once again.
• April 1953: Coronation progress certificate launched for Scouts. The Chief Scout and the Committee of the Council have decided that a special Progress Certificate, signed by the Chief Scout, be awarded to each Scout and Senior Scout Patrol which makes progress during Coronation Year.
• April 1953: Launch of Scout coronation souvenir pennant.
• May 1953: Coronation Year Adventure Scheme: On HM The Queen's first Christmas Day broadcast the theme of Her Majesty's message was "Adventure." In an effort to encourage this, a friend of Scouting has offered some prizes for the best adventures undertaken in this Coronation Year by First Class Scouts aged 15 and 18 years.
• May/June 1953: Senior Scouts support the Lord Chamberlain's Office carrying messages during the build up to the Coronation.
• 1 June 1953: 180 Rover Scouts and Senior Scouts on duty overnight staffing temporary police canteens.
• 2 June 1953: Rover Scouts and Queen's Scouts support Peers entering the Abbey.
• 4,000 Scouts and volunteers operate 76 programme selling depots throughout the night before the Coronation. A total of 700,000 programmes are sold by Scouts, with funds raised going to King George's Jubilee Trust.
• 50 Queen's Scouts help General Film Distribution Ltd with production of film – A Queen is Crowned and 10 help British Movietone News Cameramen.
• 20 Queen's Scouts on Buckingham Palace forecourt help police.
• A television is installed at Gilwell Park for Scouts not on duty to watch the coronation.
• 1,100 Scouts have standing positions along the procession route to support crowds.
• 1,390 Beacons are lit on the evening of the Coronation, organised by Scouts.
• The Chief Scout lights the beacon in Hyde Park. 28 Scouts have seated tickets in Piccadilly (won through a ballot).
• 4 June 1953: The (Boy) Scout Association has freedom of Chingford bestowed upon it as part of the borough's Coronation celebrations.
• 9 June 1953: HRH The Duke of Gloucester (Scouts' President) hosts Scouts from 17 nations of the Commonwealth at a garden party.
• 14 June 1953: 1,000 people attend a Joint Scout and Guide service at Willesden Synagogue.
• 21 June 1953: 4,000 Scouts and Guides, 50 Cubs and 50 Brownies attend a Joint Scout and Guide thanksgiving Coronation service at Westminster Abbey. 2,000 Scouts and Guides attend a Roman Catholic thanksgiving service at Brompton Oratory.